..Book Reviews..

She argues intelligently and gently from a biblical perspective, always mindful of the need for grace and compassion. She's especially aware of the areas where the church has floundered, specifically divorce, abortion and homosexuality. Her academic style can be a bit much at times, but for the most part she stays shy of being overly intellectual.

Dawn offers grace over judgment, often reversing the question and asking how the church can support the individual. Community is emphasized, as Dawn argues that proper friendships should offer the support necessary to avoid sexual temptation.

While Dawn highly values sexual union, she makes a point to de-emphasize the importance of sex. In a casual sex society she argues that sexual fulfillment is not the epitome of happiness. She deflates arguments about an individual's right to sexual pleasure, essentially turning to a theology of suffering. She grudgingly explains her own handicaps and gives the example of quadriplegics who function as full and complete people without any sexual gratification. She offers a gentle reminder that despite what we hear, sex is not everything.

Her discussions on divorce, abortion and homosexuality are laced with compassion while sticking to biblical ethics. She examines the competing biblical interpretations on homosexuality and gives the reader a thorough overview of the debate. With knowledge in hand, she then addresses the question of how to deal with homosexuality, addressing many of the deeper concerns of the homosexual person.

Marva Dawn describes a holy sexuality that thrives in marital relationships and pushes way beyond the lingerie or how-to manuals that are normally recognized as sex-enhancers. Consider it a reintroduction to sex, focusing on God's design and how we can pursue that goal as broken people.